Wheel



w. B. KERmc'K.

WHEEL.

l. APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, |920. 1,377,354. Patented May 10, 1921.

` Z SHEETSSHEET -l- 11g *.1.V v l 75g a 2a- -es "J Y# 5o.- Z 22g 7 .12 Y fr 5%; M -ffl E? \///4 J6 f1? 0` i da |NvENToR A WALTER B. Ksnmcn WHEEL.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII o. 1,3?7,354;. Patented May 10, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. l i@ I' "WEEK jremesa..

To all whom it ma'ywconcern: Be it known that I, WALTER Y a citizen ofjtheUnitedfStates, residing yat character bywhich thespring membersmay Los Angeles,K4 in the kcounty of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements 'in'` W'heels. of which the'following isa specification.

ticularly pertains to afresilient wheel of the type embodying a series'of transversely eX? tending helical'y springs aiiixed intermediate theirV terminals to the' central portionof :the wheel and having -their'endsengaged' with thesides of the wheel rim; Y i

' It is the object of this invention gto provide a construction .in a wheel of the4 above be encased in such'manner as tol practically exclude dirtand `water and in which the spring inclosure will operate to cushion the action 4of the springs and also serve-to permit f the use of lighter springs than otherwise'.,y A-notherobject isto provide an arrangement whereby the. several whee`l elements may be readily assembled, removedandrfre placed.

O her y objects will Aappear hereinafter.

y The invention is illustratedin the accom- Y panylng drawings, in which:

Figure lis a v1ew`of a wheell as seen-in end elevation andpartly in 'vertical section. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary viewin'side elevation with partskbroken away. .p Y

Fig. 3 isa detail insectionfaiid perspec` tive ofthe rimv portion of the wheel. f

More specifically 10 indicates an inner wheel Vmember .11; an wollten-wheel"member encirling the` inner member, and 12 a series ofi spiral springsginterposed between *the wheel members. The inner membergembodies a hub* 13 having a pair of relatively movable flanges r11i-15, and includes a pairA K of metallic disks 1v6-17'1disposed on the opposite sides of a woodensp'acing annulus fr 18 preferably consisting Yof vlaminated.seg f mentsof wood arranged with adjacent Elayers' in crossed?grain relationito 'each other;

the plates being clampedf` against z theJ sides ofthe ywood spacer 'byjfboltslQ passingV l the flange rllis movable thereon so f when the Vboltsf19 are'fastened vplace-as shown'in Fig. 1 the platesl and '17 andthe ,Specification of Illettersllatent.y Mary 10,- 192,1.`

iran STATES 'irA'rrzN'lr orifice. i

*Y Y, encircles Vthe .'circumferenoeof'the'spacergt B. KERRICK,

bind thewood against'outward expansionl under the pressure imposed thereon between .thelplates The outer 'portions'ofithe plates are brought together and are connected by rivets 21 or vr other suitable fastenings er-y of thefplates'by clamping the latter .on opposite sides of an intermediate coil of each spring softliat Athe/springs willextend 'The lends of the ksprings are connected to demountable rings 22 andV 23 comprising part offthe outer wheel member, the inner n i K Y k :,'1`rllhesprings12 are mounted on the periph# i Y This invention relatesto a wheel and parl* edges of "theringsbeingk engaged between the end coils ofthe springs;V the rings y22 2?) having channelsf22'l and 23" pressed 1n theirouter faces in whichthe endcoils of thesprings are seated."

yThey outer vwheel member embodies V'arim 2fl adapted to receivea cushiontire'25 which rlmis "formed with a pair 'of beveled flanges i'267and 27 on its innerlperipheryrwhich flanges have their beveled or inclined faces "on the side toward the edgeof the wheel rim. Av pair of split rings `28 and 29":areVV provided having `inclinedj side Vfaces which rings are adapted tobe positioned with-their linclined faces abutting -against ,the 'corf responding inclined'faces 26V and 27; of the shoulders; :the split rings being of such outside diameteil whenzeXpa-nded as to slidably fit ,theinner periphery of the wheel rim and have such inside ,'diameteras to slidably yencircle `the rin`gs 22 kand 23'.l

Abutting against lthe outer faces of the split rings are face .plates l'30 and 31 which are constructed in the jform. offlat rings the outer edges'of which slidably clit the inner peripheryofv thewheelrim andthe inner vedges ofwhich eXtend'to a point below the plates 22 and2-3 beyond'the endsoffthe springs 12 andy are jturnedinwardly to 'form marginal `'flanges 82v4 on their inner edges.

tute' 'side ,members on ,the buter wheel memlThe l face vplates '30 landjl Ythe `split ringsg28l and. 1295 'inibearin'glagainst the 1 flanges 2612L1idf247lon'the'wheel rimyconstief c Arranged alongside the 11ol f l' threaded openings, 35 on their outer faces Mounted 'to Vseat on t-hev springs l2YA and i :bearingupon the inner periphery of the@ y,wheel rim is a-cushion annulus 37 formed ,of

i adaptedy to be engaged byfbolts`36 inserted through openings inthe face plates 30 and 31V and-inthe rings22and 23. The ringsj33i .and 84 have an outside diameter correspond-A ing tothe rings 22 and 23 and havesuchwini' side diameters as tofclear the springs l2. f

rubber. or similar resilient material and wliiehannulus is ofv such width on its inner lfaiceas to'extend substantiallygacross the wardv its point `ofcontact with thefwheel.- f rim thus form-ing yan outwardly extending resilient wall between the springs andwheel space betweengtlie plates, 22fand 2.3aud is tapered inV cross section fromits edges to-v rim, which-is capable of yieldable movement in); all directions `and provides v`means for Y preventing excessive @movement of the 1 Extendingrrem uieoppae A'aries if the i' plates 16 and 17 and abuttingagainst the inner.portionefthe springs 12 is a pair of flexible annular'members 38 and 39 the yin,- nerfedges of -which abut a ainst thepouter faces of thevplates 16` end l ,and the outer f edgespofiwhich abut against the innerjfaces- `of-the face plates 30 andgBLanzdseat: upon tlfie flanges 32. These annular' members 1 are iieiaipinppiace .by Spierings 4o and V4.1 y'which bear against the inner faces of the members "adjacenttothe plates lfand 17 The `meinbersj38 and39 l'serve toclose thespa'cebe tween the springs to prevent moisture and i dirt from gainingaccessto'the space encompassedmgby the wheel rim, the side members and thesprings..A The outer peripheries of the *annular` members V39 are formed with transversefcavities Af to receive the *springs forming proj ectioiis B which V extend between the springs and coperate with the corresponding .proj ections C onl the inner periphery of thecusliion annuliis 37 in yieldably restraining lateraliiexure of the spring.

,ln assemblingJv the wheel, :thegsp'rings are placed in vpositionon'the inner wheel mein- I around the springsandcrowded-into en# Y berend the resilient members'S andfl) are disposed .against the Y inner `portions v thereof.

'The outerK4 resilient.v annulus 37A .is disposed gagement withfthe Wheelfrim, the side rings and 34 Aartej ..p'ositioned on opposite sides of. `@the @anillas and .therspriee @asesina rings22 and23are connectedtofthe ends of f the springs. fiThe splitringsf2'8gand r29 are 'i thenfzdispcsedagainstfshpuldeijsi and 27 and the yface ,plates and `r3l e116, disposed Y aeeilstithe osterraqes @fue spia ringe. Then-springs 12A being contractedfthefspring engaging-rines, 22.ei1d 23 Iaid; the Side; rings iand 34e4 are fthen spaced :from the inner .-faGeS Qi?l theffeeirleteey f .The belts 36"ere then passed throughl the face plates and screwed into 'engagement with the rings 33 under tension.I The split rings moving inwardlyVV "on the inclinedshoulders willbe contracted `into tight circumferential engagement with the outer peripheries of the rings 22-25` and. 33e-34 and thus serve to elfe'ct'a wedge engagement betweenthe inner andouter wheel members. The springs l2 willthus be kplaced under tension so as to afford resilientconnection between'the inner andv outer members to cushion their relai tive movement in all directions. Clearance is provided between `vthe sides of the annulus 37 and the side rings to permit distortion thereof under pressure and this annulus being yieldable is adapted to be compressed f f 'in event the spacesin the sides thereof becomeffilled 'withf water and subjected to a freezing temperature.: i y

l/Vhile I haveshown and described aspe-v vciicy vembodiment of lmy, :invention do not limit myself to the exact details of constructionhere shown butmay resort to any modification or'changesasroccasion may require withoutv departing from the scope of the iii- Vvention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim :y 1- Ina wheel, an inner Wheel member, an

outer wheel, member encircling same, a series of helicalsprings connecting the opposite sides of the inner wheel member to the sides of theouter wheel member, and an annular cushion member interposed and bear- V ing between said springs and Lthe outer meinberand acting to yieldably restrain iiexure of said springs..

2. AIn a wheel, an inner wheel member, an

outer *wheel member encircling said inner wheel member and spaced. therefrom, a series of helicalsprings connecting the opposite sides of the inner wheel member to each side of the-.outer wheelmember and normally disposed substantially parallel with theaxis ofthe Wheel, and mean-shearing between said springs and the outer wheel mem ber .for

springs.

yieldably, restraining flexure of said zfna wheel, Van innery wheel member, an

,outer wheel member encircling said inner wheelV member and spaced therefrom, a series yof helical springs connecting the opposite sides of the inner wheel'member to each side of theoiiter fwheelmember and nordisposed p substantially parallel ywith 'the axis ,of the wheel, means bearing between Ysaid springs and theouter wheel memberffor yleldeblrrestraiens ,exure @i ASaid Springs its outer wall into which said springs and an annular cushion member bearing against said springs and forming a yieldable iiiclosuie therefor. Y Y

4:. In a wheel, an inner wheel member, an outer wheel member encircling said inner wheel member and spaced therefrom, ak series of helical springs connecting'the opposite sides of the iiinerwheelmember to eachv side of the outer wheel member and noi'- mally disposed substantially parallelfwith the axis of the wheel, means bearing between Said springs and the outer wheel member for yieldably restraining iieXure of said springs, and an annular cushion member bearing against said springs and forming a yieldable iiiclosure therefor, said last named cushion member formed with transversek cavities on its outer periphery to receive the springs and serving to yieldably restrain lateral leXure of saidV springs.

5. In a wheel, an inner wheel member, an

outer wheel member, a'series of laterally disl posed helical springs projecting from the sides of said inner wheel member and connecting at their outer extremities with the sides of said outer wheel member, and means encircling the cylindrical body formedY byV said springs for yieldably opposing leXure of said springs in every direction.

6. vIn a wheel, an inner wheel member, an

outer wheel member, a series of laterally dis-v 7. In a wheel, an inner wheel membeigan outer wheel member,'a series of helical springs connecting the oppositesides of said inner wheel member to the sides of the outer wheel member, side plates carried by the outer wheel member and spaced from the cpposite sides of the inner wheel member, and annular yieldable housing members eX- teiiding between said plates andthe inner wheel member and abutting against the inner sides of said springs.

8. In a wheel, an inner Vwheel member, an

outer wheelV member, a Series ofV helical springs connecting the opposite sides of said inner wheel memberto the sides of the outer wheel member, side plates carried by the outer wheel member and spaced'from zthe opposite sides of the inner wheel member, and annular yieldable housing memberseXA- tendingbetween said plates and the inneri wheel member and abutting against the inner sides of said springs, said members havspringsproject. Y Y

9. In a wheel, an inner wheel member, a wheel rim encircling said inner wheel member andspaced therefrom, a series of springs extending outwardly from the opposite sides of the inner wheel member and connecting withV said wheel rim arranged to permit limited universal movement of the rim and the inner member relative to each,other,`and an annular cushion member interposedbeing peripheral recesses into which saidV tween said innerV wheel member and the rim and coperating with said' springs lin re- -siliently opposing movement of the inner wheel member Vand the rim relative to each other.

l0.A In a wheel, an inner wheel member, a wheel rim encircling said inner wheel mein., ber and spaced therefrom, a series ofisprings extending outwardly from the opposite sides of the inner wheel memberY and connecting with said wheel rim arranged to permit limited universal movement of thek rim and the inner member relativetoV each other, and

an annular cushion member interposed between said inner wheel member and the rim and cooperating with said springs in resiliently Yopposing movement of the innerV i wheel member and the rim relative to cach other, said cushion membeifbearing on the` outer sides of said springs Vsubstantially throughoutV Y.their lengths and. abutting against the rim centrallyY of the width thereof.

11. In a wheel, a hub having a pair of Vrelatively movable flanges, va pair kof disks encircling said hub between said flanges, a

fibrous spacing block encircling the hub between said ilanges, means for clamping said disks in'frictional engagement with said spacing member, whereby said'lmember will be V,forced into clamping engagementl with ing member against diametrical expansion.

VAL'IER B. KERRICK.

said hub. and means for holding said spac- 

